Must-Reads: The Future of Space, a Guide to Rdio and the $333,000 Burger

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By Megan Hess2013-08-09 21:29:56 UTC

During the week, we consume words in snackable, tweetable bites. But on the weekends, we have the time to take a dive into the murkier, lengthier depths of the Internet and expand our attention spans beyond 140 characters. We can brew a cup of coffee and lie back with our iPads, laptops, smartphones and Kindles.

Since you're bound to miss a few things during the daily grind, we present to you, in our weekly installation of Mashable Must-Reads, a curated collection of can't-miss stories to read and reflect on. (You can find last week's must-reads here.)

When 'Facebook Official' Isn't Enough

For couples managing a business or a blog together, co-authoring social media accounts is a no-brainer. But it's becoming the status quo: Couples are racing to share their Facebook and Twitter accounts, which could pose some serious relationship issues.

Does the Future of the Space Industry Depend on Kickstarter?

Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are making space accessible for common Earthlings. As NASA missions hit red tape in Congress, some smaller missions would not be possible if not for private companies and public fundraising.

You Should Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence

Debates over A.I. often take one of two sides: the technology's benefits or its dangers. Upon deeper inspection, though, its moral implications are murkier than simply "good" or "bad." We explore the deep-seated issues associated with merging technology with our bodies (note: read before your next argument about robots).

The Final Hours of a Pre-Bezos 'Washington Post'

At 4:15 p.m. on a Monday, an email about a company-wide meeting shook the newsroom. Here's an inside look into what the Post looked like in hours leading up to — and immediately following — Don Graham's announcement that Jeff Bezos would purchase the 134-year-old newspaper for a cool $250 million.

Why You Should Eat This $333,000 Burger

After years of work, a scientist at a Dutch university cooked and served the world's first lab-grown "beef" burger, bankrolled by Google cofounder Sergey Brin. It still needs some serious work, especially in the taste department, but it could help save the planet.

The Beginner's Guide to Rdio

Rdio and Spotify may seem identical, but the former is much more geared toward helping fans discover new music. For those just getting started, check out our comprehensive guide to kickstart — and get the most out of — your Rdio experience.

Don't have time to read them all now? In our Readlist below, export this week's must-reads to your tablet to save for a time you have no distractions. Simply click the "read later" button alongside each story or or click "export" to send the entire list of articles to your preferred device.

Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Topics: artificial intelligence, jeff bezos, kickstarter, Lifestyle, must reads, rdio, space, the washington post